After Virginia Tech: Investigating Passive and Active Interior Design Safety Measures and Protocols on College and University Campuses

Investigating effective elements of the interior environment in which are proactive strategies related to active shooting prevention are explored through passive and active measures. The research analyzes changes to the interior environment at Virginia Tech after the 2007 shooting based on the strategic implementation of certain actions, features, and experts involved in the decision-making process. This study aims to investigate effective proactive interior design strategies for higher education campuses (or classrooms) that engage both passive and active tactics, and to identify the process in which the decisions are made and implemented. The reviewed literature identifies important aspects of the policies, procedures, psychological/behavioral contingencies of space, and the convergence of design and the built environment. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the study will use interviews, photo-ethnography, and forced connections to identify changes made in policies and design which have impacted the higher education environment and safety. The findings are expected to suggest an intersecting approach between decisions made by outside experts and their effect on the interior environment. The potential impact of this research will guide and encourage collaborative, standards, and best practices relative to evidence-based decisions on protection and proactive actions against active shooter situations at Institutions of Higher Education.